Sustainable in the Suburbs

Sarah Robertson-Barnes
  • 4.6 (10)
  • HOME & GARDEN
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Want to waste less, save money, and make your home a little more eco-friendly? Sustainable in the Suburbs is your go-to podcast for practical, judgment-free tips and real-life stories to help you build sustainable habits that actually stick. Hosted by Sarah Robertson-Barnes — a suburban soccer mum, sustainability educator, and founder of the blog Sustainable in the Suburbs — this weekly show brings doable advice, honest conversations, and actionable ideas to help you waste less, spend smarter, and live more sustainably at home. Because sustainable living doesn’t have to be perfect to matter — and you don’t have to do it all to make a big impact.  Start where you are, use what you have, and live a little greener.

  1. 4D AGO

    42: RECYCLED - Overwhelmed by Climate Change? Start Here.

    This episode originally aired in the very first month of Sustainable in the Suburbs. I’m revisiting it now because this idea remains one of the clearest ways to find your place in climate action — and sometimes returning to the foundation is exactly what helps us feel re-energized. Climate change feels HUGE — and it is. The problem is urgent and complex. And when you start looking for solutions, it can seem like there’s an endless list of things you should be doing. All of them are important, and that can feel completely overwhelming. But meaningful climate action doesn’t happen because one person does everything. It happens when many people each find their place — in their homes, their neighbourhoods, and their communities. In this episode, I’m sharing a simple framework I often come back to refocus my efforts: the Climate Action Venn Diagram from Dr. Ayana Elizabeth Johnson. We’ll talk about how your skills, your joys, and the needs of the world can come together to help you find your own personal starting point — one that feels meaningful, realistic, and sustainable for the long haul. Takeaways The Climate Venn Diagram helps identify a meaningful starting point for climate action by looking at what brings you joy, what you’re good at, and what the world needs.Sustainable living isn’t about doing everything — it’s about doing something that feels right for you.Joy is a powerful motivator in climate work and there are countless ways to contribute your skills.Climate action often happens at the community level — through local advocacy, shared resources, and collective resilience.Building habits that feel good and fit your life helps make climate action sustainable for the long term.One Small Shift Download a copy of Dr. Ayana Elizabeth Johnson’s Climate Venn Diagram worksheet, grab a pencil, and just see what comes up. You might be surprised by how much clarity this one little exercise can bring. Resources How to Start Living Sustainably: A Simple Framework for Climate Action Climate Action Venn Diagram How to Find Joy in Climate Action (TED Talk) What If We Get It Right? (website) All We Can Save - Ayana Elizabeth Johnson & Katharine K. Wilkinson (book) What If We Get It Right - Dr. Ayana Elizabeth Johnson (book) Buy Nothing Project Related Epiosdes Support the show Connect With Me Website Newsletter Shop Instagram Support the Show Sustainable in the Suburbs is mixed and edited by Cardinal Studio If you enjoyed this episode, I’d love it if you followed the show, shared it with a friend, or left a rating and review. Every little bit helps more people find Sustainable in the Suburbs — and live a little greener.

    22 min

  2. MAR 10

    41: Behind the Scenes — Sustainability on Film Sets with Erin Karpluk

    What does sustainability look like in a fast-moving industry like film and television? In this episode, Canadian actress Erin Karpluk shares how growing up in Jasper shaped her connection to nature, how the 2024 wildfires impacted her community, and how those experiences inform the way she approaches sustainability — both personally and professionally. We talk about eco-friendly habits, secondhand fashion, sustainable travel, and what waste and sustainability look like behind the scenes on film sets. This is a conversation about environmental awareness, resilience, and the small shifts that can influence culture at work. Takeaways How growing up in Jasper shaped Erin’s connection to nature and communityThe impact of the 2024 Jasper wildfires on memory and resilienceWhat sustainable living looks like in everyday routinesHow sustainability in film production is evolving — and where it still needs workPractical eco-friendly travel habits for people who live on the roadHow small workplace habits can shift culture over timeWhy connection to people and place fuels environmental awarenessConnect With Erin Instagram Facebook IMDb Support the show Connect With Me Website Newsletter Shop Instagram Support the Show Sustainable in the Suburbs is mixed and edited by Cardinal Studio If you enjoyed this episode, I’d love it if you followed the show, shared it with a friend, or left a rating and review. Every little bit helps more people find Sustainable in the Suburbs — and live a little greener.

    1h 2m

  3. MAR 3

    40: How to Host a Zero Waste Birthday Party for Kids (Eco-Friendly Ideas That Save You Money)

    I can’t be the only one who has complicated feelings about goody bags… right? Kids' birthday parties have quietly escalated. The venues. The décor. The goody bags. The expectation that every year has to be a little bigger than the last. But most kids don’t actually need all of that. In this episode, I’m sharing how we’ve kept birthday parties simple, low waste, and still genuinely fun — from smaller guest lists to reusable decorations, bulk food, experience gifts, and activities that don’t end up in the trash. If you’re looking for practical, eco-friendly birthday party ideas that feel realistic for busy families, this episode walks through exactly how we do it. Related Episodes Ep. 16: Sustainable Living with Kids with Jessica Nakamura Ep. 22: Simple, Real-Life Sustainable Living with Julie Darrell Ep. 23: Borrow Before You Buy with LEND-IT.CA Ep. 26: Holiday Food Waste — Simple Ways to Reduce Waste and Save Money Resources How to Have a Zero Waste Birthday Party for Kids (blog post) Should You Give Secondhand Gifts (blog post) Eco-Friendly Gift Ideas for Kids (blog post) Balloons Blow Support the show Connect With Me Website Newsletter Shop Instagram Support the Show Sustainable in the Suburbs is mixed and edited by Cardinal Studio If you enjoyed this episode, I’d love it if you followed the show, shared it with a friend, or left a rating and review. Every little bit helps more people find Sustainable in the Suburbs — and live a little greener.

    24 min

  4. FEB 24

    39: Sustainable Home Renovations — Materials, Waste, and Designing Homes For Life with Brittany Steptoe Wright

    We talk a lot on this show about the small daily habits inside our homes. But every so often, the choices get bigger. Renovations bring in materials, demolition, budgets, trades, and long-term decisions all at once. They shape how a home functions — and how it holds up — for years. In this episode, I’m joined by Brittany Steptoe Wright, Founder and Principal of BSW Design and COO of Steptoe Carpentry, for a practical and thoughtful conversation about what sustainable design actually looks like inside real projects with real budgets. If you’re planning a renovation — or simply thinking about your home with a longer lens — this conversation offers a steady framework for building and living in a way that lasts. Takeaways What sustainable design actually looks like inside a renovationWhere renovation waste comes from — and where it can realistically be divertedWhy durability often matters more than trend cyclesHow antiques and inherited pieces can anchor a renovationHow professionals weigh sourcing, longevity, and budget togetherWhy maintenance plays a key role in sustainabilityOne Small Shift Take care of your things — loved things last! Maintain them. Repair them. Clean them properly. Loved things last — and extending the life of what’s already in your home is one of the simplest and most meaningful sustainability decisions you can make. Connect With Brit Website Instagram Podcast Resources Habitat for Humanity  Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) Sustainable Waste Farrier Home  RC Home  HanStone Jairpur Living Support the show Connect With Me Website Newsletter Shop Instagram Support the Show Sustainable in the Suburbs is mixed and edited by Cardinal Studio If you enjoyed this episode, I’d love it if you followed the show, shared it with a friend, or left a rating and review. Every little bit helps more people find Sustainable in the Suburbs — and live a little greener.

    55 min

  5. FEB 17

    38: Things I Don’t Buy Anymore — Eco-Frugal Shifts That Reduce Waste and Save Money

    Buying less is one of the most powerful forms of climate action we have. In this episode, I’m sharing some of the things I’ve stopped buying over the last ten years of sustainable living. This shift into eco-frugal living happened gradually, beginning with using up what I already had, doing periodic waste audits to see what we were consistently throwing way, and getting very clear on how and where to spend our money. Because truly, the most sustainable thing you can buy is nothing. Takeaways Climate action begins at the kitchen tableMany “household essentials” are designed to be constant restock itemsMarketing — especially in personal care — encourages us to buy more than we needReusables make the most sense for things you use all the timeSaving money and reducing waste naturally go hand in handNot buying creates mental, physical, and financial spaceOne Small Shift Instead of focusing on what you might stop buying next, try making a short list of things you already don’t buy anymore — and notice what made that possible. Resources Household Waste Audit Workbook (free download) A Beginner’s Guide to a Sustainable Kitchen (use code PODCAST20) How to Quit Using Amazon (blog post and podcast episode) 10 Zero Waste Kitchen Swaps That Save You Money (blog post) How to Pack a Zero Waste School Lunch (blog post) 3 Ways to Have a Zero Waste Period (blog post) Support the show Connect With Me Website Newsletter Shop Instagram Support the Show Sustainable in the Suburbs is mixed and edited by Cardinal Studio If you enjoyed this episode, I’d love it if you followed the show, shared it with a friend, or left a rating and review. Every little bit helps more people find Sustainable in the Suburbs — and live a little greener.

    22 min

  6. FEB 10

    37: Sustainable Decluttering — Why Letting Go Isn’t Neutral

    Donation dumps are basically reverse shopping hauls. Decluttering is often framed as an end point — clear it out, drop it off, move on. But what if the way we let things go quietly trains how we bring new things in? In this episode of Sustainable in the Suburbs, I’m exploring the relationship between decluttering, donation, and sustainable living — and why donation isn’t bad, but also isn’t neutral. We talk about mindful decluttering, overwhelmed donation systems, and how slowing down the letting-go process can shape more intentional habits around both acquiring and discarding things. This conversation sits at the intersection of sustainable decluttering, minimalism, and organization, and asks what becomes possible when we stay present through the full life cycle of our stuff, instead of treating decluttering as the end of the story. Takeaways Decluttering is part of the buying cycle, not separate from itDonation isn’t bad — but it isn’t neutralDonation systems are overwhelmed by the sheer volume of donated goodsSlowing down decluttering creates useful feedbackCommunity-based solutions take more time... and that's the pointPaying attention when things leave your home shapes future purchasesOne Small Shift Look into your community-based options. That might mean joining a Buy Nothing group, checking what local organizations actually need, or learning where items are most likely to stay in use — and letting that guide how you let things go. Resources Sustainable Decluttering – An Eco-Friendly Approach to Letting Things Go (blog) How to Host a Clothing Swap (podcast episode) Fewer, Better Things - How to Reduce Kitchen Clutter (podcast episode) Sustainable Minimalism - Stefanie Marie Seferian (book) No New Things - Ashlee Piper (book) The Story of Stuff - Annie Leonard (book) Consumed - Aja Barber (book) Aja Barber (Patreon) Support the show Connect With Me Website Newsletter Shop Instagram Support the Show Sustainable in the Suburbs is mixed and edited by Cardinal Studio If you enjoyed this episode, I’d love it if you followed the show, shared it with a friend, or left a rating and review. Every little bit helps more people find Sustainable in the Suburbs — and live a little greener.

    21 min

  7. FEB 3

    36: How to Host a Clothing Swap — Sharing Clothes & Building Community

    We all have clothes we don’t wear. Pieces that might fit again someday, that were expensive, or that feel too nice to just drop into a donation bin. When those clothes start piling up, donation often becomes the default solution. And once those bags are gone from the trunk, the buying cycle begins again. In this episode, I’m taking a closer look at that pattern, and at what it might look like to slow down not just how we buy clothes, but how we let them go. We’re talking about clothing swaps — how they work in real life, why they’re such a powerful (and often overlooked) tool for sustainable living, and how sharing clothes within our existing circles can keep clothing in use closer to home, while also building connection and community. Takeaways How donation has become part of the buying cycle (and why that matters)How clothing swaps keep clothes in use locallyWhy letting go of clothing is emotional (and how swaps create a softer landing)How to actually host a swapWhy planning for leftovers is just as important as planning the swap itselfHow sharing clothes can quietly build connection and communityOne Small Shift Try it! If you have host energy, host a clothing swap — start small, keep it simple, and see what happens. And if hosting feels like too much, say YES to attending one. Resources How to Host a Clothing Swap (blog post) Ep. 35: Rethinking Sustainable Fashion with Sabs Katz Clotheshorse Podcast Consumed - Aja Barber (book) Aja Barber - Patreon Support the show Connect With Me Website Newsletter Shop Instagram Support the Show Sustainable in the Suburbs is mixed and edited by Cardinal Studio If you enjoyed this episode, I’d love it if you followed the show, shared it with a friend, or left a rating and review. Every little bit helps more people find Sustainable in the Suburbs — and live a little greener.

    25 min

  8. JAN 27

    35: Rethinking Sustainable Fashion, Consumption, and Personal Style with Sabs Katz

    This episode touches on sustainable fashion — but it’s not only about fashion. It’s a conversation about how we think about clothes, how we relate to what we already own, and how everyday decisions around getting dressed connect to consumption, care, and creativity. I’m joined by Sabs Katz, the creator of Sustainable Sabs and a cofounder of Intersectional Environmentalist, for a thoughtful, wide-ranging conversation about personal style, overconsumption, and what it looks like to slow down without turning sustainability into a rulebook. We talk about clothing as memory and legacy, why reducing consumption matters more than chasing “better” products, and how practices like mending, swaps, and intentional limits can actually make style clearer — not more restrictive. This episode is for anyone who wears clothes — which is all of us. Takeaways Why fashion can be such a complicated entry point into sustainabilityWhat “sustainable fashion” can look like in real lifeClothing as memory, inheritance, and careReducing consumption without rigidityMending, swaps, and community-based alternativesFinding creativity outside of constant trendsSome excellent challenges to curb your consumption and recharge your creativityOne Small Shift Pause before buying something new. Save it, sit with it, and see how you feel about it a week later. Connect With Sabs Instagram Website Substack Resources Intersectional Environmentalist Indyx Hot or Cool Institute Drive to Target - poems by Hayley DeRoche Pattie Gonia How to Host a Clothing Swap (blog post) Support the show Connect With Me Website Newsletter Shop Instagram Support the Show Sustainable in the Suburbs is mixed and edited by Cardinal Studio If you enjoyed this episode, I’d love it if you followed the show, shared it with a friend, or left a rating and review. Every little bit helps more people find Sustainable in the Suburbs — and live a little greener.

    59 min
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4.6
out of 5
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About

Want to waste less, save money, and make your home a little more eco-friendly? Sustainable in the Suburbs is your go-to podcast for practical, judgment-free tips and real-life stories to help you build sustainable habits that actually stick. Hosted by Sarah Robertson-Barnes — a suburban soccer mum, sustainability educator, and founder of the blog Sustainable in the Suburbs — this weekly show brings doable advice, honest conversations, and actionable ideas to help you waste less, spend smarter, and live more sustainably at home. Because sustainable living doesn’t have to be perfect to matter — and you don’t have to do it all to make a big impact.  Start where you are, use what you have, and live a little greener.

Information

  • Creator
    Sarah Robertson-Barnes
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    43
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Sustainable in the Suburbs
  • Show Website
    Sustainable in the Suburbs

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